From our Readers - And why are private businesses funding it?

I can understand it wanting to be a bank, especially as it might help to save local jobs. But then taking consultancy jobs away is not a great trade-off. Giles Roca said some agencies 'struggle to understand and work with' politicians. Then the task is surely to get good at picking the right ones? Organisations need that external view to ask the questions that are not always asked internally.

Now more than ever voters and taxpayers want councils to get better at delivering core services. First it's Essex Bank, then Essex Communications, next Essex Builders? Will it be self-funding in two years? I am funding a PR company when all I wanted was a council.